Friction draft-gear.



J P CURSON PRIGTION DRAFT GEAR.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT.21, 1910.

messes:

" UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN F. COURSON, F PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FRICTION DRAFT-GEAR.

To all whom it may concern: y

Beit known that LJoHN F. CoUnsoN, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Pitcairn, in the county of Allegheny vand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction Draft- Gear, of which the following isa specification. Y

My invention consists of an improvement 1n frlction draft gears Yfor railway cars, etc.,

l and it has for its object to provide a draft gear simple in construction and of high eiiciency, vdesigned to utilize the wedging and releasing ualities of wedge locks vbetween a. central uiting member and surrounding frictionmember or members, having faces disposed at varying angles, together with a supplemental separating wedge engaging the friction members and diilerential angle .w blocks respectively.

T e particular object of the present invention is to provide, in a friction draft '-gear of this type, means for equalizing the struction more fullyhereinafter set forth.

In the drawings z-Figure l is a central vertical sectional view of the complete draft airing assembled, 'the arts being shown 1n extended position. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line II. II. of Fig. l. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the friction shoes. Fig. 4 is' a similar view of oneof the differential angle wedge blocks.l Fig. 5 is a similar view of the terminal separating wedge. Fig. 6 is a similar `View of the central wedge block. Inthe drawings, 2 represents theV draw bar of a coupler ixedly connected wit-h the yoke 3 by transverse bolts 4, in the manner customary in this art, .said yoke embracing the casing or cylinder 5 at top and bottom as shown, the yoke and casing being located between'. the central sills 6, 6. A bea'rin block or piece 7 is set against the rear en of cylinder 5 against the outer end of which block bears the rounded end 8 of yoke 3 with an interposed filling block 9, referably secured to the end of t-he yoke.

Specification of Letters Patent.

in Fig. 1 extending inwardly at each side from the center sills 6, which sustain the pulling effect of the draft gear and impart it to ,said sills, while similar rear stops 10 act to receive and impart buiiing strains in the same manner. I

The central .wedge block 11 has angularly disposed wedge faces 12 of pyramidal arrangement, corresponding in number to the differential angle wedge blocks, said faces 12 tapering forwardly from its body portion at about 40 to the horizontal, more or less. Said wedge block l1 is preferably provided with a rearwardly extending central stem 13 projecting' into a receiving clearance opening of the terminal separating'wedge 22, although such stem is not absolutely necessary. W'edge block ll extends forwardly and bears by. its main body portion against front follower plate '14, which plate in turn engages the rear of draw bar 2 between the armsv of the yoke 3.

The friction blocks or shoes 15 are of a number corresponding to the faces l2 of central wedge blockill. Said friction shoes 15 are rounded to fit the interior of cylinder 5, which is preferably slightly tapered toward its opposite Vend as shown, and the friction vshoes extend inwardly at their rear ends in segmental. form as shown. The differential angle wedge blocks 16 intervene between the central wedge block 11 and the friction Shoes, said blocks 16 having their inner faces what blunt faces 12 of the central Wedge block, while their outer faces 1S are inclined at a much more acute angle, corresponding to `.t-he angle of faces '19 of the friction shoes 15. The differential angle blocks 16, of the same number as the friction shoes 15 and faces 12, preferably four, are each provided at one side with a key 20 I adapted to intertit within the receiving cavity 21 of the adjacent wedge block, so that when loosely assembled they will all be maintained longitudinally together, but each capable of a slight independent movement with regard tothe other. The object of this construction is to maintain all ofv the diiferential angle Wedge blocks in grouped arrangement, permitting themto have free lateral and longitudinal movement together.

The lterminal separating wedge 2-2v is of double -truncated pyramidal form, having e front stops 10 are shown in dotted lines front blunt wedge faces 28 of about the same Patented Dec. 5, 1911. Application filed September-21, 1916. Serial No. 583,016.

17 inclined at the same angle as the somemore acute than faces 23, but of an ample i angle to insure prompt release from between the rear segmental portions of the friction shoes 15. Said rear segmental portions are provided at their inner faces with Wedging lsurfaces 25, corresponding to angle faces 2st of the terminal separating wedge 227 against which they bear, as clearly shown. A buffing spring 26 is of well known construction and function, interposed between the inner end lof cylinder and the rear ends of friction shoes 15, as clearly shown.

The construction of the device is similar to that shown in my prior applications Serial. Nos. 476588 and 482318, with the exception of the terminal separating wedge 22. The object of said Wedge is to supplement the function and effect of the differential angle AWedge blocks 16, in effecting spreading of the friction shoes 15 equally through-- out their entire length, and with resulting equalization of the frictional contact betweentheir exterior surfaces and the .interior of cylinder It accomplishes this object by effecting the separation of the inner segmental terminals of the friction shoes, due to the inward travel of angle blocks 1G when forced inivardly by the impactof buffng. As blocks 1G travel backvvardly, they are likewise slightly collapsed, due to the slight taper of faces 18 and 19,

and their other more blunt faces 24 acting on faces 23, force the terminal separating Wedge 22 inwardly between faces 25 of the friction shoes by engaging said faces with faces 2-1 of the separating Wedge. The effect ofrthis action is t'o spread the inner ends of the friction shoes and to bind them tightly against the cylinder, in conjunction With the main spreading effect of the angle blocks 16. In pulling, the effect Will be the same, but usually to a less degree, the load acting through strap 3, cylinder 5 and spring 2G against the rear endof the friction shoes.

In operation, the entire assembled Wedge construction will become slightly elongated due to the inward movement of blocks 16, necessarily forcing separating Wedge 22 'beyond the main central Wedge 11. Upon release of pressure the Working parts Will be immediately separated due to the (zo-acting blunt faces of. the main central Wedge, differential angle Wedge blocks 16, and of the terminal separating wedge 22. Said Wedge will necessarily expand the inner portion of the friction shoes in V'conjunction with the Wedges 1G, whereby to insure a uniform frictional contact throughout the entire length of the friction shoes Within the cylinder, thereby tending to increase its capacity and utilizing the full effect-ive area, Without undue `wear at any point.

llhe operation of the apparatus will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The advantages result primarily in the great frictional contact pressure between the friction shoes and cylinder Within 'a comparatively short range of longitudinal Inovement equally' through the shoes and the iinmediate and complete separation ofthe binding parts upon release of b ufling or pulling pressure. The parts are easily assembled and maintained in assembled relation by reason of the interiitting engagement of the several diderential angle blocks, While the expanding and releasing effect of the terminal separating Wedge insures a symmetrical disposition of the frictional strains.

Having described my invention, what l 1.. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and the relatively movable dran7 bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing having angle faces, a central buffing block having angle faces, interposed Wedge blocks having corresponding angle faces, and a terminal separating Wedge having angle faces engaging said interposed wedge blocks and-the friction shoes respectively.

2. In a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and the relatively movable dravvY bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing each having an acute and a blunt angle face respectiyely, a central bulfing block having blunt angle faces, Wedge blocks interposed between the central bulllng block and the friction shoes engaging` the acute angle faces ofthe shoes and the faces of the bu'liing block and having inner. blunt angle faces, and a terminal separating Wedgehaving blunt angle faces engaging the blunt faces of the friction shoes-and of the interposed 1.vedge blocks respectively.

3. In a friction draft gear, the combina-y tion With the casinOv and the relativel movable draw bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing, a central bufling block Wedge, and a series of segmental Wedge blocks interposed between the friction shoes and the central bulfing block provided With meeting faces co-extensive with their length and having co-acting latera extensions and depressions, substantially as set forth.

4e. ln a friction draft gear, the combination with the casing and the relatively movable draw bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing, a central buffling block Wedge, a series of Wedge blocks interposed between the friction. shoes and the central buiiing block having co-acting lateralr extensions and depressions, and a terminal separating .tan u ar shouldersl and recesses co-acting wit corresponding elements on the adjacent block to prevent relative longitudinal movement of eitherblock and a terminal separating wedge having oppositely disposed series of 'wed e faces engaging the inner terminal faces o the friction shoes and wedge blocks respectively.

6. In a friction draft gear, the combination with a casing and a relatively movable draw bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing havin inner acute and blunt wedge faces respectlvely, a central buiing wedge [SEAL] block, wedge blocks interposed between'it 25 and .the acute 4wedge faces -ofthe friction shoes, and a terminal separating wedge en-` gaging said wedge blocksvand having faces engaging the blunt faces of the friction'shoes for expanding them -within the casing when the casing or draw bar approaches' the one" toward the other. 7. In a friction draft gear, "the combination with the casing and the rel'atzivelymoy'-, able draw bar; of friction shoes .engaging separating wedge engaging said faces, and

-means withinthe friction shoes forv expand# ing them within the casing and for exerting inward pressure against said terminal Wedge 4 0 'when the casing or draw bar approaches the onetoward the other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix 4my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Y JOHN F. COURSON. Witnesses: I

C. M. CLARKE, CEAS. S. LErLEY.

It is herebyv certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,011,034, granted December5, 1911, upon the'application of VJ ohn lCourson, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania; for an improvement in Friction Draft-Gear, an error appears inthe printed specification` l rquiringcorrection as follows: Page l., line 14, for the word locks read blocks; and that the said Letters Patent` should be readv with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. D., 1914.

J. T. .NwToN,

Acting ommsz'oner of Paeats the casing having terminal lwedge faces', a 'il'VA .tan u ar shouldersl and recesses co-acting wit corresponding elements on the adjacent block to prevent relative longitudinal movement of eitherblock and a terminal separating wedge having oppositely disposed series of 'wed e faces engaging the inner terminal faces o the friction shoes and wedge blocks respectively.

6. In a friction draft gear, the combination with a casing and a relatively movable draw bar; of friction shoes engaging the casing havin inner acute and blunt wedge faces respectlvely, a central buiing wedge [SEAL] block, wedge blocks interposed between'it 25 and .the acute 4wedge faces -ofthe friction shoes, and a terminal separating wedge en-` gaging said wedge blocksvand having faces engaging the blunt faces of the friction'shoes for expanding them -within the casing when the casing or draw bar approaches' the one" toward the other. 7. In a friction draft gear, "the combination with the casing and the rel'atzivelymoy'-, able draw bar; of friction shoes .engaging separating wedge engaging said faces, and

-means withinthe friction shoes forv expand# ing them within the casing and for exerting inward pressure against said terminal Wedge 4 0 'when the casing or draw bar approaches the onetoward the other.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix 4my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Y JOHN F. COURSON. Witnesses: I

C. M. CLARKE, CEAS. S. LErLEY.

It is herebyv certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,011,034, granted December5, 1911, upon the'application of VJ ohn lCourson, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania; for an improvement in Friction Draft-Gear, an error appears inthe printed specification` l rquiringcorrection as follows: Page l., line 14, for the word locks read blocks; and that the said Letters Patent` should be readv with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. D., 1914.

J. T. .NwToN,

Acting ommsz'oner of Paeats the casing having terminal lwedge faces', a 'il'VA It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,011,034, granted December 5,

1911, upon the application ofV John F. Courson, of Pitcairn, Pennsylvania; for an improvement in Friction Draft-Gear,,n error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as followe: Page 1, line 14, for the worci locks read Moeke; :intl that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oliice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. D., 1914.

J. T. NWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.'

[SEAL] 

